Ramson Ragin Leaps to the Front

Posted Monday, January 12, 2009 by Perry King

At the beginning of the inaugural indoor track season in 2008, the Dobbs Ferry boys team seemed to be mainly just runners and a big shot putter. With their champion triple jumper from the 2007 outdoor season, Charles Harden, bowing out, the Eagles were facing a big void in the jumping events. That's when Ramson Ragin stepped in.

Having had the chance to get the hang of the long and triple jumps during his freshman year with Harden and other jumpers, Ragin decided that he could take the leap and see where his limits were. He hasn't really found them yet.

Starting first with his specialty the TJ, Ragin picked up 4th and 5th place finishes in the 2008 indoor League and Sectional meets with jumps in the 32 to 34 foot range. Adding some more muscle and hops, he took off during the outdoor season, adding a foot to his TJ distance, meet after meet, to push beyond 38 feet and take a League meet championship and 5th in the Sectionals.

The 2009 indoor season has opened new horizons for Ragin and the League Meet was the prime exhibit. Not only did he shatter the 40 foot barrier in the TJ with a winning 41 foot jump, he also doubled up with a second personal best in winning the long jump with an 18-4.75 leap. And to add to the golden moment, he also pulled fellow gridiron star Matt Goldwebber into the long jump with him to cop a silver medal with a great first-timer 17-9 jump.

As a self-taught athlete and team leader who pushes the limits and is always striving to learn more about his sport, Ragin is a great story and just a great guy.